LIKE many other specialist centres, Blackmarston School is used to drawing on the goodwill of those families who in turn rely on its services in order to get by.

Increasing pupil numbers versus a limited spending ability means that without their support, things just wouldn’t add up.

Fortunately, for the 57 children currently on its books, staff at the Hereford school have the sort of outlook that just seems to make everyone – including parents and siblings – want do their bit.

“We do have an incredibly dedicated staff here,” deputy head Claire Crump admitted.

“Lots of people probably wouldn’t find it magical, but those little tiny pieces of progress that you see a child make are just amazing, incredible.”

It’s this attitude that has seen the site flourish since it was built to accommodate 40 children 12 years ago, despite today’s excess figures.

The playground was more of a waste ground then but parents spent three years raising £66,000 to provide each classroom with its own fenced play area alongside a wooden play fort, sensory garden and a memorial garden.

And, when the current physiotherapy pool proved to be just too small, supporters – including the seven-year-old brother of one pupil who went without birthday presents for two years – helped raise £100,000 to extend it.

It means when children return in the autumn, a state-of-the-art pool with a constant current running through it will enable those who need it to keep swimming for as long as required.

Headteacher Sian Bailey said: “We have had to reach a compromise from the space we have got, so that was a good way to get the facility for our children who have to learn to walk and need physiotherapy.”

On top of this, cupboards have become sensory rooms, changing areas and a M The memorial stone at Blackmarston. 092902-1 soft play room over the years to help pupils with autism and multiple learning difficulties gain comfort and confidence.

But with class numbers rising from seven to eight in the new school term, and every inch of space already accounted for, in excess of £20,000 is now needed to provide storage sheds and also essential shades or ‘sails’ to shelter children from the sun in the summer months.

Air conditioning in the school’s atriumstyle entrance hall – currently a makeshift library – is also desperately needed.

Until then Blackmarston’s teachers, assistants and physiotherapists will no doubt continue making the best of their school and, more importantly, their pupils.

Teaching assistant Mary Hewitson, who has worked there for 28 years, said: “When we first started it was difficult to take the children some places but now they go everywhere – and we are so proud of them.”